OHIO — NetChoice, which represents Meta and TikTok, is suing Ohio over enforcement of the new Social Media Parental Notification Act. 

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio announced that the Social Media Parental Notification Act would force kids under the age 16 to present verified parental consent before using social media platforms

  • According to Haley BeMiller of the Cincinnati Enquirer, NetChoice believes this is too broad and violates the First Amendment

  • In Dec. 2023, NetChoice filed a similar lawsuit in Utah

Ohio announced the Social Media Parental Notification Act would force kids under the age 16 to present verified parental consent before using social media platforms. This proposal was championed by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine. 

According to Haley BeMiller of the Cincinnati Enquirer, NetChoice believes this is too broad and violates the First Amendment. 

In Dec. 2023, NetChoice filed a similar lawsuit in Utah.

Husted released a statement regarding the lawsuit, calling it "cowardly but not unexpected."

“The law simply requires parental consent before children under the age of 16 sign up on social media and other online platforms," he said in the statement. "In filing this lawsuit, these companies are determined to go around parents to expose children to harmful content and addict them to their platforms. These companies know that they are harming our children with addictive algorithms with catastrophic health and mental health outcomes."

He continued, saying research shows "excessive time" on social media platforms have negative effects on kids including issues with body image, irregular sleep and bullying.

"They need to drop this lawsuit so that we can move forward with the Social Media Parental Notification Act that makes parents part of the equation," he said in the statement.

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